Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Risk of elbow fracture in dogs with humeral intracondylar fissure
By Moores, A P & Moores, A L·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2017·Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The natural history of humeral intracondylar fissure: an observational study of 30 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 30 dogs with a condition called humeral intracondylar fissure (a type of bone crack in the elbow) was observed over several years to see how often it led to fractures or required surgery. About 18% of these dogs ended up with a fracture, and 24% needed a surgical screw to stabilize the bone. The average time for fractures to occur was around 14 months after diagnosis. This study helps pet owners and vets understand the risks involved with this condition and make better decisions about treatment options.
People also search for: dog elbow fracture treatment · humeral intracondylar fissure in dogs · dog surgery for elbow problems
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk of condylar fracture, or of needing to have a transcondylar screw placed, and to identify risk factors in a cohort of dogs with humeral intracondylar fissure (also known as incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle) that was initially managed non-surgically. METHODS: A retrospective owner survey of dogs diagnosed with humeral intracondylar fissure as an incidental finding and managed non-surgically with a minimum of two years follow-up. Body weight, age, estimated fissure size, gender and contralateral fracture at the time of diagnosis were evaluated as potential risk factors for the development of a humeral condylar fracture or for having a transcondylar screw placed. RESULTS: Data were available for 30 dogs (34 elbows). Six humeral condyles with a mean fissure size of 50% fractured at a mean of 14 months after diagnosis. A transcondylar screw was placed across two humeral condyles with fissure sizes of 60 and 100% at 11 and 17 months. No risk factors were identified for fracture/screw placement. For those cases that did not fracture or have a screw placed mean fissure size was 52% and mean follow-up time was 56 months (range 29 to 79 months). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Eighteen percent of cases progressed to fracture and 24% in total required surgery. This information allows clinicians and owners to make an informed decision regarding surgery when faced with a dog with humeral intracondylar fissure identified as an incidental finding.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28369948/